FEU draws loudest cheers, bags CDC title

MANILA, Philippines — It didn’t take long for Far Eastern U to get back on top.

For the second time, the FEU Cheering Squad stole the thunder from the vaunted NU Pep Squad by dethroning the latter in the electrifying UAAP Season 86 Cheerdance Competition yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

In front of more than 18,000 fans, the dancers from Morayta, who finished runner-up in Season 85, threw it back with a nostalgic Super Mario-themed routine for their fourth CDC crown.

It was FEU which denied NU a three-peat in Season 84, in the process winning its first title in 13 years.

This time around, FEU said it’s game over anew through the sounds of the iconic video game to halt NU’s bid for a record-tying title in CDC history despite the latter’s iconic Elvis “King of Rock and Roll” dance theme.

FEU, which also swept the special awards, topped the tosses (88), tumbling (82.5) and pyramids (88) with only five points in penalties and deductions for a whopping 702.5 points.

The team came second to NU (88.5) in stunts with 84.5 points and the Santo Tomas Salinggawi Dance Troupe (374) with 364.5 points in dance.

NU, with a total of 697 points, finished second to fall short from a back-to-back feat and its eighth title that would have tied the joint record of UP Pep Squad and Santo Tomas, which completed the podium once again this season with 684 points.

Santo Tomas, with a Korean girl group Blackpink-inspired routine, also finished third last season.

Adamson Pep Squad (665), UP (602), UE Pep Squad (559), La Salle Animo Squad (555.5) and Ateneo Blue Eagles (532) finished in order.